Compassion must be real

Published:08:58Sunday 13 September 2015

For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in…’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, …?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

From Matthew 25:31-40.

Knowing I will not come up with an answer, and the topic of those that are fleeing the conflicts of the middle-east is so far beyond what this space allows for and understanding that no matter what I say someone will take exception to it from either end of the spectrum, still it is current events.

I haven’t read any solutions that actually cover all the bases. So diving in head first into the deep end...

Refugees are on the move. Some estimates say 800,000 from Syria, Afghanistan and Libya. So let’s start with the two extremes; first let no one in, second is open the borders and let everyone in. But what might be the balance that is both compassionate and answers the words of Christ above for those on the move and yet still be those words to the people that are already living in a place?

There are the issues tied to compassion that we must answer. The picture of the wee lad on the beach last week has really galvanized public opinion toward more openness. Anyone with no feelings of sorrow for that family in that loss really needs to examine their hearts for how they can be so hard hearted. These pictures make one just want to open the door and let everyone in without the hardship or risk that many are taking. The cry of ‘it must be so bad where they are to take such risk to get away.’

But the counter is; why is it so bad where they are? Where is the outcry and response against those doing these vile acts against fellow human beings? Why is there nothing being done on the ground, why did we leave so soon, why are we not as concerned for the Christians that are being martyred, in numbers that even a Google search can’t quantify, to the point of being wiped out of the population to the point that few of that 800K people flooding into the EU are Christian.

That most all of the refugees are not Christian should have nothing to do with our ultimate response, but surely I’m not the only one a bit bothered that there are few Christians left to need to escape. Why are the Muslim Middle-eastern countries expecting them to come to the EU instead of into nearby massive oil rich countries?

So where do we start? I’d love to get a reply or 100 to see where our community is on this topic. If I did a man on the street poll how would you answer? And before I leave today, I can hear some voices saying; “But Jon, you’re an immigrant yourself.”

True, and I did all the right paperwork to get here. I hope at the end of the day that I have done more good than not.